Accessible communications
Government information should be as accessible and inclusive as possible. Something can be accessible to some people, like a video or a tweet, while being inaccessible to others.
Creating accessible and inclusive communications
Accessibility requirements for public sector bodies
Public sector websites published before 23 September 2018 must be compliant by 23 September 2020. Read and use the guidance on GOV.UK:
Create accessible social media campaigns
At least 1 in 5 people have a long-term illness, disability or impairment that affects how they access or understand information.
In our guide, we explore the quick and simple ways you can improve the accessibility of social media campaigns – from planning through to publishing – to make them more effective and help you reach more of the people you need to.
Use inclusive communication
How to produce communications that include, accurately portray, and are accessible to disabled people:
- inclusive language: words to use and avoid when writing about disability
- portraying disability
- using a range of communication channels to reach disabled people
- accessible communication formats
Five principles to make your campaigns more inclusive
Inclusive communication from the Office for Disability Issues and Department for Work and Pensions (GOV.UK)
Training and resources
Learning about accessibility is a journey, not a project. Assistive technology is always evolving and communicators need to stay up to date with these development so they can focus on the user needs.
GCS resources
Government Communication Service on accessibility:
- Set up a website for government campaigns
- Digital accessibility learning with the GCS Academy including
- digital accessibility for government communicators on-demand webinar
- 7 videos from the Global Accessibility Awareness Day video series (with GDS)
GOV.UK resources
Get involved with the accessibility community
- Sample accessibility statement
- Equality Act 2010: guidance (GOV.UK)
- Making online public services accessible – regulation campaign site
- Accessibility in government blog
- Doing a basic accessibility check if you cannot do a detailed one
Other resources
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (W3)
- WCAG 2.1: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
- Public Sector Equality Act (Equality Human Rights website)